Hi,I would like to know which would be most successful at hatching poultry eggs a heat mat or a heated propergator?I would like to know how it would possible to poultry eggs on or near a heat mat?I can't afford an incubator.How can I use it and is there any way I can controll the temperature?I would like to hatch quail and duck eggs.Would a heated plant propergator work?Thank you.Abbanoub

I think you can pick up cheap propagators on ebay, or use their design to make your owni think as mick says the fixed poin of heat wouldn't be great as you'd get a hot side in contact with the mat and a cold sidecheersmarcus

Yep, it's the all round heat that an egg needs, as well as a regulated humidity. I have a couple of incubators - my smallest will definitely do for hen eggs and guinea fowl eggs - but turkey or duck eggs? Forget it! The eggs will develop, but then the humidity isn't stable enough for hatching & so the bird starts to come out of the egg, get dry, get stuck & die.

A heat meat or propagator just won't cut it - you NEED a proper incubator - even if it's just a loan..... have you tried asking your local freecycle?